The Nation Newspaper

Tag: borno

  • Troops arrest suspected supplier of fuel to Boko Haram

    Troops arrest suspected supplier of fuel to Boko Haram

    The Nigerian Army says its troops have arrested a suspected supplier of fuel to Boko Haram terrorists in Borno.

    A statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday by Army spokesman, Col. Sani Usman, said the suspect was arrested at Molai check point in the outskirt of Maiduguri at about 8 a.m. on Tuesday.

    He added that the suspect was arrested with a truck loaded with 25 jerry cans of petrol and other goods cleverly covered in cartons.

    Usman said preliminary investigation indicated that the suspect had for long engaged in supply of fuel and other goods to terrorists in Sambisa.

    He said: “the Quick Response Force (QRF) of 251 Battalion, 7 Division Garrison on routine check arrested a truck loaded with 25 jerry cans of PMS and other goods.

    “The PMS and other goods were cleverly covered and concealed in the truck.

    “The driver of the vehicle, Muhammadu Adamu, claimed ignorance of the contents of the vehicle and called the owner of the goods, Tijjani Gambo to explain.

    “He too denied supplying the terrorists’ fuel and other items. Rather he claimed to be a mere trader that supplies goods to customers in Damboa based on demand.

    “However, preliminary investigation revealed that he has been sending PMS and other goods through the same route at regular intervals without an identifiable corresponding recipient in Damboa.

    “Although investigations are still ongoing, it is suspected that it could be the means through which he had been supplying the terrorists with dire logistics in Sambisa forest.”

    Usman said authorities in the region had banned the purchase and transportation of petrol in containers in Borno and its environs.

    He said both suspects and the exhibits had been handed over to Joint Interrogation Centre for further investigation.

  • High turnout of worshippers in Borno, Yobe

    •Celebration peaceful 

    Muslim faithful in Borno and Yobe States turned out in large numbers to mark the Eid-el-Fitr yesterday.

    Security was tightened at the praying grounds, with security men placed at strategic points.

    Vehicle movement was restricted, compelling worshippers to walk to praying grounds. There were also heavy security checks.

    At the Yobe Mosque and Islamic Centre in Damaturu, Deputy Governor Abubakar Aliyu, with the National Secretary of All Progressives Congress (APC), Maimala Buni, and other government officials, joined worshippers to offer thanks to Allah for the success of Ramadan.

    Leading the prayer session, Chief Imam of the centre, Ustaz Hudu Mohammed, admonished faithful to imbibe the spirit of tolerance, patience and to live peacefully with one another, irrespective of differences.

    Mohammed urged them to utilise the lessons of Ramadan in their daily lives, and to cultivate the spirit of sharing, love and peace during the Sallah.

    He offered special prayers for the sustenance of peace in the state, the country and the world.

    Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, in his message, admonished the people to use the knowledge acquired from Ramadan in their daily activities.

    In Maiduguri, there was a large turnout of worshippers at the Ramat Square. Thousands trooped out to observe the two Rakat prayers.

  • Govt declares nutrition emergency in Borno

    The Federal Government has declared a state of emergency on nutrition in Borno State.

    President Muhammadu Buhari has also called for a quick response to the malnourished, as well as medical and environmental challenge going on in the Northeast.

    About 240,000 children are severely malnourished with about 128 estimated as dying daily.

    The decision followed an emergency meeting with the government of Borno State over the malnutrition crisis.

    Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewale made the declaration yesterday at the inaugural meeting of the governing board of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Regional Centre for Disease Control in Abuja (RCDC).

    His words: “We are declaring a nutritional emergency in Borno. We try to put a rapid response team in place following Mr. President’s directive. This morning, we had an emergency meeting with the Borno State emergency response team, because more children might die if we don’t do something quickly.

    “RCDC will be part of the emergency response team we are putting up.”

    The minister, who noted that the first major assignment for the RCDC will be in Borno, directed its acting Executive Secretary, Prof. Abdulsalami Nasidi, to deploy a rapid response team to the state to tackle the crisis.

    “A large number of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are at the verge of death. There is need for immediate action, for each child identified, there are many unidentified.

    “The scale of our intervention should be more than 500,000 children. The government needs to scale up vaccination in cholera and polio; we do need to ensure clean environment for these children as well,” Prof Adewole added.

  • Borno goes after officials stealing IDPs’ rice, other relief items

    Borno goes after officials stealing IDPs’ rice, other relief items

    Security agencies have placed under watch some government officials entrusted with the distribution of food and other relief materials to the hundreds of  thousands of people displaced by the Boko Haram terror in Borno State.

    The action followed persistent allegations especially on the social media that officials have been stealing, re-bagging and selling rice donated to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) by government, charity organizations and philanthropic individuals.

    The situation is said to be causing severe hunger among the IDPs spread across the over 20 camps around Maiduguri, the State capital, while officials keep smiling to the bank with the proceeds from their illegal business.

    Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State at a meeting with the police and the State Security Services at the weekend asked them to arrest officials involved in the act.

    That was after he had travelled to Bama, 75km away from Maiduguri, to personally verify the allegation.

    The visit confirmed that not only were many of the IDPs hungry and malnourished on account of inadequate care,they were dying rapidly.

    His aides said he even saw fresh corpses of persons killed by hunger being buried.

    The governor reportedly ordered that 61 of those with acute malnutrition be transferred to the intensive care unit of the Umaru Shehu Ultramodern Hospital, Maiduguri, immediately to save them from dying.

    Another set of 478 children, alongside 219 adults with lesser cases of malnutrition, were also moved to a special care unit for proper feeding and medication, officials said.

    Sources said that apart from food items, medical drugs, toiletries, beddings and wrappers were regularly stolen and sold by greedy officials.

    The State House of Assembly has already invited the Chairman of the  State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Ahmed Satomi, to come and  explain why IDPs are dying of malnutrition almost every day.

    The Chairman, House Committee Verification on the plight of IDPs, Mustapha Ngala, who led other members to the office of SEMA Friday told journalists that his committee was mandated to go round IDP camps to see if there was any gap in feeding and welfare need of victims of the Boko Haram insurgency.

    “We have gone round most of the camps to see things for ourself and report back appropriately to the House and the authorities, we have been to Dalori Camp I & II, Bakassi Camp, Shettima Ali Monguno Camp among other resettlement camps,” Mr. Ngala said.

    “We have had discussions with those managing these camps and the victims themselves (IDPs). We have not concluded our findings to tell you what we have gathered yet, but very soon, when we are through with our findings, we are going to tell the public.”

  • Borno governor’s wife lifts widows

    Wife of the Borno State governor Hajia Nana Shetima, yesterday donated foodstuffs to 200 widows and orphans to enable them observe the ongoing fasting “without stress”.

    Hajia Shettima, in a brief remark to flag-off the exercise in Maiduguri, said the gesture was aimed at assisting “the most vulnerable groups in the society”.

    “The gesture is part of the efforts by the Society for Widows, Orphans and Tsangaya pupil’s (SWOT) Foundation, whose aim is to mitigate the hardship confronting the poor,” she said.

    She said the beneficiaries were mostly victims of insurgency, “who don’t have anyone to cater for them.”

  • Boko Haram: Nigerians in Diaspora want Borno Stake holders investigated

    The Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group (NDMG) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to order an investigation into the role being played by the various stake holders in Borno state in the intractable nature of the Boko Haram insurgency.

    It pointed out that even as others celebrated this year’s Children’s Day, the abducted Chibok girls continue to be in Boko Haram’s slavery because several persons and groups are making political capital and possibly economic gains out of the captives’ unfortunate situation.

    NDMG explained in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, that the development around the two rescued Chibok girls, information reportedly supplied by other freed Boko Haram abductees and the reported confessions of captured fighters of the terror group have confirmed earlier held beliefs that the insurgency has the blessing of highly placed persons in the State.

    The statement by the UK Coordinator of NDMG, Engr. Adeka Onyilo, stressed that the Presidency can no longer shy away from ordering a special investigation into what is truly going on in that state, particularly when other states to which the insurgency spread are now back on the way to recovery while Borno state continues to relapse.

    “Our recommendation at this point is for the Federal Government to set up a Board of inquiry into the roles being played by all those that present themselves as the leaders of that State.

    “Events in Borno have shown that Boko Haram terrorists thrive on more than the support of urchins and unemployed youths.

    “The insurgents have proven that the support they enjoy in the area is at an organizational level and possibly with State dimension. The Federal Government can therefore not make headway in the place if those that pretend to support it in the anti-terror fight are actually undermining its efforts by deliberately creating situations that allow the crisis to persist.

    “To make sure that the terror group is dealt a final blow that will allow the country know peace, anyone or group implicated in sustaining Boko Haram, whether directly or through acts of sabotaging the Federal Government’s efforts must be made to face the law.

    “Mr President can no longer allow such compromised persons to continue wielding influence in Borno and environs as their continued support for terrorism could drag the ongoing fight into a stalemate,” the statement warned.

    It stressed that the abducted girls, being people’s children must not be allowed to spend another Children’s day in captivity.

  • Photo: Found Chibok girl arrives with baby

    Photo: Found Chibok girl arrives with baby

  • Boko Haram: Troops arrest wanted Boko Haram suspect in Sambisa forest

    The ongoing Operation CRACKDOWN on Boko Haram by the Nigerian Troops in Sambisa Forest is yielding significant success according to the military.
    It’s latest operation in the area has led to the arrest of one of the wanted terrorists leader, Suleiman Umaru.
    Acting Director Army Public Relations Col. Sani Usman disclosed the arrest in a statement.
    ” In continuation of Operation CRACKDOWN deep inside Sambisa forest, troops have arrested one of the declared wanted Boko Haram terrorists leaders, and also conducted patrols and clearance operations within the theatre of operations.
    “At about 1.35pm yesterday troops of 143 Battalion arrested one Sulaiman Umaru, a suspected Boko Haram terrorists group member whose photograph is on the poster containing the photographs of the 100 Boko Haram terrorists declared wanted. He has since been moved to 28 Task Force Brigade Headquarters for further investigation,” Usman statement.
    The statement also noted that troops of 21 Brigade engaged in a heavy battle with the terrorists along Dikwa-Maiduguri road where many of the terrorists were killed.
    “Troops of 21 Brigade have continued with the clearance operations at Yerimari, while troops of 22 Task Force Brigade Garrison have also embarked on patrols along Dikwa–Mafa-Maiduguri road. The patrol was aimed at picketing the road to keep it safe and open.
    “Similarly, the same unit in conjunction with some elements of 112 Task Force Battalion conducted a fighting patrol along Dikwa-Gulumba Gana road. The team had a fierce fire fight with some Boko Haram terrorists elements in which the troops killed quite a number of the Boko Haram terrorists,” it said.
    On a sad note however, Col. Usman informed that soldiers on routine patrol ran into some Improvised Explosive Devie(IED) which injured 7 soldiers and 4 Civilian JTF.
    The Statement said; “Unfortunately, while on their way back, the team ran into an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at Antul, a village south east of Dikwa, in which 7 soldiers and 4 Civilian JTF accompanying them sustained injuries. The injured soldiers and their civilian counterparts have been evacuated to 7 Division Hospital and Medical Services Maiduguri.
    “However, the patrol killed 2 Boko Haram terrorists and recovered 2 AK-47 rifles from them.
    “The patrol team had earlier intercepted 31 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), including women and children coming from Sunabaya, Gumule, Garno and Mane-Gana villages.
    “During preliminary investigations along with the vigilantes, one of the IDPs, Abacha Bulama, a native of Mane-Gana village, was found to be in possession of the sum of One Million, Nine Hundred Thousand Naira (N1,900,000.00k).
    “Although he claimed to be a businessman, his possession of such large amount of money arose suspicion.
    “While Bulama has been detained for further investigation, other IDPs have been handed over to Dikwa IDP Camp Manager for screening and further humanitarian assistance.
    “On their part, troops of 254 Task Force Battalion, 25 Task Force Brigade have moved to Ngalimeri and shelled Boko Haram terrorists hideouts at Budumairi, Goneri Baleni, Mallam Maitari, Malemiri and Gombori. Although there were no signs of the Boko Haram in the area as they have all fled, however, 35 persons were rescued, screened and rehabilitated at Damboa IDP camp. The troops also arrested 2 suspected Boko Haram terrorists with Dane Guns.
    “In a related development, troops of 192 Battalion, 26 Task Force Brigade also carried out clearance operations at Guduf Buba, Yagwa, Gamude, Kwatara Kasa and Kwatara Tsakiya villages. It was observed that at Kwatara Tsakiya, the terrorists have neatly removed the roofing of the dispensary and other buildings possibly to cart away later.
    “Apart of the formations and units mentioned above, quite a number of them have maintained blocking positions to prevent Boko Haram terrorists escaping from Operation CRACKDOWN and aerial bombardment by the Nigerian Air Force, while other troops carry out raids, cordon and searches in suspected Boko Haram terrorists hideouts”.
    The statement also observed that humanitarian activities have increased in the theatre due to the improved security currently witnessed.
    “Due to increased security, the theatre is witnessing increased humanitarian activities by various government and non-governmental agencies,” the statement said.

  • Update: Six killed in Maiduguri explosion

    A bomb explosion rocked Maiduguri, Borno State capital, on Thursday.

    Six people died, while six others were injured in the incident.

    The explosion reportedly occurred at the gate of Shehu Usman State Secretariat located in the city centre.

    The Chairman of Borno State Emergency Management Agency, (SEMA), Engr. Satomi Ahmed, while briefing Governor Kashim Shettima and his deputy, Alhaji  Usman Mamman  Durkwa, who visited the scene of the explosion said, one policeman was killed alongside five other people.

    Six other persons were seriously injured in the blast.

    The SEMA chief said bodies of the victims, including that of the suicide bomber had been taken to the state specialists’ hospital.

    An eyewitness said the explosion occurred at 11:40am and was carried out by a male suicide bomber.

    The area has since been condoned off by military and members of the civilian joint task force.

     

  • NSCDC deploys 200 personnel to Boko Haram liberated towns

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has deployed 200 of its personnel to Boko Haram liberated towns in Borno.

    Mr Ibrahim Abdullahi, the NSCDC Commandant in the state, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Maiduguri.

    “We have already deployed 100 to Dikwa and we are preparing 30 for Munguno, while 20 of our men were drafted to Nganzai Local Government Area.

    “Some of them are already in Chibok and Askira Uba local government areas.

    “The officers include special armed squad and counter terrorism squad.

    “Also officers in the Anti-riot Squad, Bomb Detection and Disposal Unit, Intelligence and Detective Unit as well as Rescue and Medical Team will also be deployed to all the liberated towns in the state,” Abdullahi said.

    The Commandant commended Borno government for its support which had enabled the corps serve the country better.